Beowulf, "the man whose name was known for courage, the Geat Leader", is an ideal hero.
Definition of Ideal Hero
Is not spoiled by success
Has great wisdom and power
Is not spoiled by success, but thanks God for his winnings
"They thanked God for that easy crossing on a calm sea"
Beowulf thanks God for helping him to cross the sea, not once thinking that he was just lucky or skillful
"But God can easily halt these raids and harrowing attacks!"
Beowulf says this while says it pains him to see that Grendel is ruining the lives of the Danes. While he could have said it was possible for him to go and defeat Grendel, he says it as a will of God, implying that he would not be able to kill Grendel if he did not have the will of God with him.
"And may the Divine Lord in His wisdon grant the glory of victory to whichever side He sees fit" (pg 47)
Before Beowulf goes to fight Grendel, he says this, reaffirming the fact that he has no control or power over who wins the fight - only God does. He has the power of many men, yet he does not flaunt his strength.
Each gift received in a fight is passed on by Beowulf to his rulers or citizens, in a humble manner.
Before Beowulf sets off, back to Geatland, he returns the sword Hrunting which turned out to be useless in his battle with Grendel's mother. But instead of taunting or even mentioning the swords failure to Unferth, Beowulf praises the sword: "...in his words he found no fault at all with the sword's edge; he was a thoughtful man"
Wisdom
"... the wide kingdom reverted to Beowulf. He ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land..."
Here, Beowulf had already achieved great success against Grendel and Grendel’s mother, and still grew wise as he ruled his kingdom. Constantly learning, Beowulf possesses the wisdom of an ideal hero.
Beowulf does use his wisdom over pride in his final fight with the dragon. Pure excessive pride would have led to him fighting without a shield or weaponry as he did against Grendel, a task which he wanted to pursue. When he considers this, though, he realizes that he needs a shield against this particular nemesis, and without another doubt, carries his shield and sword with him.
Power
It is undisputable that Beowulf has power.
In the beginning of the poem, Beowulf’s power is described as equivalent to that of 30 men.
When Beowulf fights Grendel, he has enough strength to rip Grendel's arm from his socket.
Even at the end of the poem, during Beowulf’s last fight, his sword breaks because his arm was too powerful for it.
Many, many more references are made throughout the poem.
Why Beowulf is not a tragic hero
A tragic hero is:
Egotistical and greedy
Makes an error that ultimately leads to his downfall
Egotistical and greedy
"To the everlasting Lord of All, the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die."
-With this quote, Beowulf expresses his thanks, despite his approaching death, that he was able to provide for the citizens he ruled over. The fact that he cares this deeply about his people and does not focus solely on himself defies the definition of egotistical. His final moments on earth were given in self-sacrifice to his people.
"If I ever hear from across the ocean that people on your borders are threatening battle as attackers have done from time to time, I shall land with a thousand thanes at my back to help your cause.
-Here, Beowulf's altruism shines through. He had already aided the Danes in their struggle against Grendel and his mother, and now states that if they ever need further help, Beowulf would, without question, rise to the occasion. Being a Geat, he is under no obligation to assist the Danes, but does it out of his camaraderie.
No error ultimately leads to his downfall
His downfall was caused by the dragon, which beat him because it was God's will. Although he went into the battle despite the feeling that he would lose, he entered the fight with his citizens in mind, and his downfall was caused by nothing but his selflessness. In the end, though he fell, he still succeeded, suggesting that his downfall was not a downfall at all.
In review…
Beowulf is not spoiled by success
Power and wisdom are some of Beowulf’s most dominant traits
- Definition of Ideal Hero
- Is not spoiled by success
- Has great wisdom and power
- Is not spoiled by success, but thanks God for his winnings
- "They thanked God for that easy crossing on a calm sea"
- Beowulf thanks God for helping him to cross the sea, not once thinking that he was just lucky or skillful
- "But God can easily halt these raids and harrowing attacks!"
- Beowulf says this while says it pains him to see that Grendel is ruining the lives of the Danes. While he could have said it was possible for him to go and defeat Grendel, he says it as a will of God, implying that he would not be able to kill Grendel if he did not have the will of God with him.
- "And may the Divine Lord in His wisdon grant the glory of victory to whichever side He sees fit" (pg 47)
- Before Beowulf goes to fight Grendel, he says this, reaffirming the fact that he has no control or power over who wins the fight - only God does. He has the power of many men, yet he does not flaunt his strength.
- Each gift received in a fight is passed on by Beowulf to his rulers or citizens, in a humble manner.
- Before Beowulf sets off, back to Geatland, he returns the sword Hrunting which turned out to be useless in his battle with Grendel's mother. But instead of taunting or even mentioning the swords failure to Unferth, Beowulf praises the sword: "...in his words he found no fault at all with the sword's edge; he was a thoughtful man"
- Wisdom
- "... the wide kingdom reverted to Beowulf. He ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land..."
- Here, Beowulf had already achieved great success against Grendel and Grendel’s mother, and still grew wise as he ruled his kingdom. Constantly learning, Beowulf possesses the wisdom of an ideal hero.
- Beowulf does use his wisdom over pride in his final fight with the dragon. Pure excessive pride would have led to him fighting without a shield or weaponry as he did against Grendel, a task which he wanted to pursue. When he considers this, though, he realizes that he needs a shield against this particular nemesis, and without another doubt, carries his shield and sword with him.
- Power
- It is undisputable that Beowulf has power.
- In the beginning of the poem, Beowulf’s power is described as equivalent to that of 30 men.
- When Beowulf fights Grendel, he has enough strength to rip Grendel's arm from his socket.
- Even at the end of the poem, during Beowulf’s last fight, his sword breaks because his arm was too powerful for it.
- Many, many more references are made throughout the poem.
- Why Beowulf is not a tragic hero
- A tragic hero is:
- Egotistical and greedy
- Makes an error that ultimately leads to his downfall
- Egotistical and greedy
- "To the everlasting Lord of All, the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die."
- With this quote, Beowulf expresses his thanks, despite his approaching death, that he was able to provide for the citizens he ruled over. The fact that he cares this deeply about his people and does not focus solely on himself defies the definition of egotistical. His final moments on earth were given in self-sacrifice to his people.- "If I ever hear from across the ocean that people on your borders are threatening battle as attackers have done from time to time, I shall land with a thousand thanes at my back to help your cause.
- Here, Beowulf's altruism shines through. He had already aided the Danes in their struggle against Grendel and his mother, and now states that if they ever need further help, Beowulf would, without question, rise to the occasion. Being a Geat, he is under no obligation to assist the Danes, but does it out of his camaraderie.